Image forming apparatus with detachable fixing device

Abstract

An image forming apparatus with a detachable fixing device that is capable of printing with high quality without printing wastefully. A storage unit stores identification information about a fixing device in association with an attribute of a sheet that is printable with the fixing device concerned. A control unit executes printing when the storage unit does not store an attribute of a sheet corresponding to a fixing device that is currently attached to the image forming apparatus. The control unit determines whether to execute printing according to an attribute of a sheet used in printing and an attribute of a sheet stored in the storage unit when the storage unit stores the attribute of the sheet corresponding to the fixing device that is currently attached to the image forming apparatus.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An image forming apparatus comprises:
 an image forming device configured to form, on a sheet, a toner image;   a first fixing device configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming device, the first fixing device being permitted to execute a fixing process on the sheet of a predetermined type not including a predetermined envelope, wherein the first fixing device is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, and is exchangeable with a second fixing device which is configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming device and is permitted to execute a fixing process on the sheet of a predetermined type including the predetermined envelope; and   a controller configured to receive a print job and receive an information which is input to the image forming apparatus,   wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller is capable of receiving a print job requiring the second fixing device and is capable of receiving an information corresponding to a declaration of intention to exchange the first fixing device for the second fixing device to execute the print job requiring the second fixing device.   
     
     
         11 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on a display device, a plurality of options including an option corresponding to the declaration of the intention, to be capable of receiving an input of the declaration of the intention.   
     
     
         12 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the image forming apparatus has the display device. 
     
     
         13 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays a screen for prompting an operator to input the information corresponding to the declaration of the intention on a display device.   
     
     
         14 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the image forming apparatus has the display device. 
     
     
         15 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on a display device, a key for declaring the intention to exchange the first fixing device for the second fixing device to execute the print job requiring the second fixing device.   
     
     
         16 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the image forming apparatus has the display device. 
     
     
         17 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on the display device, a key for executing the print job requiring the second fixing device without exchange of the first fixing device for the second fixing device.   
     
     
         18 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on the same display device, the key and a key for executing the print job requiring the second fixing device without exchange of the first fixing device for the second fixing device.   
     
     
         19 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein in a case where the print job requiring the second fixing device is received by the controller in a state where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on the display device, a key for cancelling the execution of the print job requiring the second fixing device.   
     
     
         20 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein in a case where the print job requiring the second fixing device is received by the controller in a state where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on the same display device, the key and a key for cancelling the execution of the print job requiring the second fixing device.   
     
     
         21 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on a display device, a time period for the first fixing device, which is currently attached, to become able to be taken out.   
     
     
         22 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on a display device, a required time period for temperature of the first fixing device, which is currently attached, to become a predetermined temperature.   
     
     
         23 . An image forming apparatus comprises:
 an image forming device configured to form, on a sheet, a toner image;   a first fixing device configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming device, the first fixing device being permitted to execute a fixing process on the sheet of a predetermined kind not including a predetermined sheet, wherein the first fixing device is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus, and is exchangeable with a second fixing device which is configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming device and is permitted to execute a fixing process on the sheet of a predetermined kind including the predetermined sheet; and   a controller configured to receive a print job and receive an information which is input to the image forming apparatus,   wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller is capable of receiving a print job requiring the second fixing device and is capable of receiving an information corresponding to a declaration of intention to exchange the first fixing device for the second fixing device to execute the print job requiring the second fixing device.   
     
     
         24 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 23 ,
 wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on a display device, a plurality of options including an option corresponding to the declaration of the intention, to be capable of receiving an input of the declaration of the intention.   
     
     
         25 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the image forming apparatus has the display device. 
     
     
         26 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 23 ,
 wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays a screen for prompting an operator to input the information corresponding to the declaration of the intention on a display device.   
     
     
         27 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the image forming apparatus has the display device. 
     
     
         28 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 23 ,
 wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on a display device, a key for declaring the intention to exchange the first fixing device for the second fixing device to execute the print job requiring the second fixing device.   
     
     
         29 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on the same display device, the key and a key for executing the print job requiring the second fixing device without exchange of the first fixing device for the second fixing device.   
     
     
         30 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein in a case where a print job requiring the second fixing device is received by the controller in a state where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on the same display device, the key and a key for cancelling the execution of the print job requiring the second fixing device.   
     
     
         31 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 23 ,
 wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on a display device, a time period for the first fixing device, which is currently attached, to become able to be taken out.   
     
     
         32 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 23 ,
 wherein in a case where the first fixing device is attached to the image forming apparatus, the controller displays, on a display device, a required time period for temperature of the first fixing device, which is currently attached, to become a predetermined temperature.